The Silver Fern

I think I would summarize the season as A for the forwards and F for the backs. We have created genuine depth up front and are capable of matching or exceeding all the top sides in the world. Probably still need a genuine line out option at 6. The backs on the other hand are a shambles : no player depth created, no style of play, no gameplan, no chemistry. The only thing we have is experience and Razor seems to value that above everything. Such a contrast to the other top nations , we have seen their backs improve in front of our eyes and we have seen fantastic new talent being blooded.

@Machpants

Exactly, no subtlety , no deception from any of them. ALB, Reiko or Jordan look like they could not set up anyone outside them all day long. No offloads , and just bad options all the time. Telea not much better and Barrett reminds me why two previous coaches also had him at fullback instead of 10. I put a lot of it on Razor. In what world will Barrett take us to the next World Cup? I know that Proctor and Jordie not available but in what world would that be inferior to Reiko and anyone?

If I did not know better when watching our back line it seems like they don’t know each other and they are all playing out of position.

Problem I have with Razor is many of his selections and tactics seemed like he was just trying not to lose, meanwhile we lost a lot of games we could have won anyway so that experience did not help us. Let’s be real he should have been working on replacements for Reiko , ALB, Reece, Beaudie for months.

Pretty much any of our sevens players have more pace than Rees.

@sparky

Rees, Jordan and Ratimer were all terrible.

@Mattasaurus said in All Blacks vs Ireland:

Gawd Jeff Wilson is a punishing listen on the Breakdown ( i know I am a day late but still..)

Agree completely, what absolute nonsense from him.

Still cannot understand for the life of me in what regard Reiko Ioane is better than Billy Proctor.

I thought tight 5 did enough. Vaii one of the best across two tests and I think we have depth at prop and lock. Hooker still need a solid one two punch. Unfortunately out of Barrett’s and DMac we still do not have a reliable pressure kicker. Let’s give up on Iaone already, zero offload game and zero deception, should be wing or out, Proctor has to get his chance. Reece and Telea are not quality wings, Saffas have about half a dozen wings faster and more skillful than these two. Jordan has done nothing to suggest he is a test quality fullback. You have to look at Love and Perofeta.

Wonder if the actual loose trio will be Cane 6, Savea 7 and Sititi 8 . Not much help in line out but would make more sense off the scrum.

I think this is a team you run out against Fiji or Argentina, against Boks in Cape Town?? High risk!!! I have seen nothing to suggest Jordan is a world class full back at test level, nothing to suggest Ratimer ready for this type of pressure, nothing to suggest Sititi is ready to compete at 6. Razor is putting it all on the line. Not sure I can find an area off the park where I feel like we are stronger.

Clarke was, very good but can someone teach him to stay on his feet? Soft ankle tap cost us 2 points right there. Will Jordan, good wing but no test full back despite BB having worst game this season, no need to change back three. I think Razor screwed up not having Proctor on bench after Fiji, imho Jordon/Proctor are the future. Loosies tough, don’t think they should have chosen both Jackobsen and Sititi, really limits options. That said Razor learning same thing as last two coaches, no one is pushing Ardie for his spot.

Did someone say it was over?

Given the way that this is being reffed a Bok red not out of the question.

@hydro11

I think this AB team has shown they can beat anyone on a given day but reasonable to say you would not have confidence that they can win three tough tests in a row.

On the bright side, happy with starting props, Papalii and Savea together, and Jordie Barrett.

@Damo said in All Blacks v England:

@DMX said in All Blacks v England:

@canefan said in All Blacks v England:

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v England:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks v England:

Really disappointed that we gave it away. BB, take a long hard look at yourself. That comeback started with you.

Haha come on, your boy Mo'unga missed touch twice from penalties, the second one ended up with England camped on our line when we should have been on theirs. You can't single one player out for that, we looked knackered at the end of a long season and England finished very strong.

Our kick options are terrible. Barely kicked for touch when that's what was required

Agreed we have no one who can kick for territory.

That's not true. Jordie has a big kick. He should be used more.

At 12 he is more of a ball carrier I get that, but BB and Mounga have failed to lead the team around the park all year this was the worse example of that.

@kev said in All Blacks v England:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks v England:

@Stargazer The poor pass to Ioane in the 1st half. Another in the 2nd half that led to a England penalty. He did some good things but struggled when he didn't have any space.

A high pass that any centre worth is salt should have taken. Ioane’s game is littered with errors. You combine him and Caleb Clarke and our mistake rate is too high.

Error rate between,Ioane , Mounga, Taylor and Clarke is way to high to consistently win games.

@hydro11 said in All Blacks v England:

@DMX said in All Blacks v England:

@canefan said in All Blacks v England:

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v England:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks v England:

Really disappointed that we gave it away. BB, take a long hard look at yourself. That comeback started with you.

Haha come on, your boy Mo'unga missed touch twice from penalties, the second one ended up with England camped on our line when we should have been on theirs. You can't single one player out for that, we looked knackered at the end of a long season and England finished very strong.

Our kick options are terrible. Barely kicked for touch when that's what was required

Agreed we have no one who can kick for territory.

We have Jordie Barrett! Not to mention Mounga and Beauden should both be able to do it.

Maybe I will rephrase, we have no one who is kicking for territory.

@Stargazer said in All Blacks v England:

@Bovidae I actually RM's running game and game management was excellent. Yes, two missed touch finders, but overall a good game.

Mounga was shite.